The 2026 USA Month of Money blog ….
Updated to Day 6 / Monday June 29th ……
Now that we have returned to Australia there are many things that need to be attended to. But perhaps the most important is to return my attention to the Blog. The prime reason it was suspended was for the safety of the tour guests whilst at the wheel of the bus. Which, throughout the tour, did 17,801 kilometres. Effectively that is the same distance as flying Sydney to Dallas and then back to Honolulu. So rather than sit up for hours until 2.00am at the keyboard, sleep became more important than words.
The Blog will be progressively completed so please come back here from time to time to read it in its entirety. If in the meantime you are keen to catch up on our daily adventures, please look for Shayne Andrews’ (from Burnie in Tasmania) excellent updates on Facebook. Shayne did a great job and I am particularly grateful for him in doing the work he did in words and pictures.
Photos will be progressively added. It is a time-consuming task to get the Blog back up to date so please bear with me.
Day -7 / Wednesday June 17th
It wasn’t without many delays, but I finally made it to Dallas, albeit six hours late.
I had left a week earlier than the first of our travellers who leave June 24th. For the purpose of ensuring all items have been attended to.
QF8, the daily Qantas service from Dallas to Sydney, morphs into QF7 when it’s time to fly back east from Australia to the USA. The aircraft is the monstrously big double decker A380. Of which Qantas have 10. The 747 Boeing Jumbo was previously the most loved plane in the fleet, but it’s now gone to God, but some still fly cargo to keep the shareholders happy.
The now preferred Airbus monster is a workhouse that’s for sure. Unfortunately, last night’s QF8 was diverted to Auckland after a medical emergency on board. As a consequence of the extra time in getting the aircraft into Sydney, the crew could not fly it any further because in doing so they would exceed their allowable flying hours. Hence a completely new crew were flown from Sydney to bring her home.
Eight hours later it landed in Sydney to pick me up, along with 429 others to immediately go back to Dallas / Fort Worth. Two hours was all it had to rest, recover and get a belly full of fuel ….. and Jack Daniel’s for me.
As I write this, we have had dinner and are now 35,001 feet over the top of Suva. Although at 909 kph it won’t take long to get out of the Fijian suburbs. Next stop is the International Date line which means we are back where we started from this morning.
The Intl Dateline is one of life’s great mysteries. It’s easy when on a plane. Leave Australia at midday and arrive in the US, same day at 12.30pm. It only took 30 minutes: plus of course the 16 hours you give back on the way home. Try and explain that to the grandkids.
But on a ship, travelling at 20 knots, crossing the Dateline just before Samoa means adding a whole ‘nother day to your itinerary. Imagine doing that exactly on your 50th wedding anniversary. But you do get to do it twice ……
But back to the A380. The majority of the tour group took the option of a buying a very heavily discounted $3,600 Premium Economy return airfare. Qantas announced the sale in mid-January 2026 and bang, we grabbed it before they realised it might have been a mistake.
The salesman in me simply asked the following question, after which I needed 24 hours to get an answer to secure the bookings. All I said was, “have you ever wanted to turn left when boarding a plane, rather than always having to go right?” They knew what I meant. It only took 50 minutes for 16 people to say yes.
(Having re-read the above, please overlook the fact that when boarding an A380 you do actually turn right! But that’s only because you’re upstairs behind Business class …..)
A Four Pillars Gin with fresh lemon and violet opened proceedings in the food and drink department. Chicken salad, beef brisket or lasagna accompanied by Asian noodle and coleslaw salad opened the batting for the food team. Pineapple polenta cake and chocolate closed the innings.
The wine, spirits and beer menu is impressive. And plentiful. And if you’re still hungry as you fly over the Equator, nip up to the back of the plane and grab a chicken and mushroom pie, and maybe finish off with a Pat & Stick’s ice cream sandwich.
Sleep came naturally with six or so hours secured, enhanced somewhat by Jack, before waking to the smell of an omelette in front of me.
As we floated into Dallas the subject of connecting with the 8.02pm to Cleveland became a priority. We would be landing at 6.28pm and in those 94 minutes, the following still needed to be done:
The plane needs to be towed to the gate …..
Then,
Get off …..
Negotiate Immigration procedures …..
Collect luggage …..
Pass through Customs …..
Give luggage back to American Airlines ….
Check which of the five Terminals is hosting flight AA560 for Cleveland …..
Go through Security to get into the Domestic terminal system …..
Leave Terminal D for said Terminal by elevated driverless Sky Link railway …..
Find Gate #?
Hopefully get on board ……
Wonder whether my luggage made it …..
Wish me luck. The Qantas crew on board assured connecting passengers that there is an “army of ground staff” awaiting our arrival to assist.
Bang on 6.28pm we thumped the DFW runway. Tick.
Plane crawled from the runway to just outside Gate D11. Here it stopped. Turned off the engines and waited. But for what? Eventually a giant truck came along to pull the giant aeroplane into the less than giant gate. The captain announced to the crews to cross check and open the doors. It was now 7.03pm.
As usual (except for me) everybody stood up, gathered their belongings and stood in the aisle. And waited. And waited. No one knew why. No one moved for 15 minutes. I figured the delay was that we had gone into a gate not usually used for double decker aircraft. Hence everyone had to de-plane through one exit. Whereas an A380 usually employs four aerobridges. Two upstairs and two downstairs.
To get out we had to go down the stairs to the bottom level and a quick look revealed that all the Economy passengers had gone. The buggars had got off first. Hence the delay. Time is now 7.20pm.
Looked for the “army of ground staff” but apart from one solitary dude in an American Airlines shirt, there was no one at the top of the aerobridge. But there were 40 or so envelopes propped up by a window with names on them. But none for me. I’m guessing they figure I can still make AA560.
I entered the cavernous hall that belongs to Homeland Security at 7.25pm. Took my spot in the queue that snakes up and back like waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland. After two minutes of that I progressed to where a female official was keeping an eye on things. Out of the blue she said, “welcome to America” and I replied very courteously with “why thank you Ma’am”. With that she tapped me on the shoulder and sent me on a shortcut to the front. It’s now 7.30pm.
Last year it took just 14 secs for the entry interview. This year was a fraction longer at an unexpected 90 seconds. I was ready to go with “here to watch NASCARs” when asked why I was going into America. Because that’s the only form of racing most American’s have heard of. But incredibly he knew what a sprintcar was after seeing it on my shirt. Hence a chat was in order to tell me that Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Fort Worth was his home track. Time now 7.32pm.
Down the (very long) escalator to baggage claim. On the way down a message flashed up on the Qantas app to advise that AA560 was delayed for 20 mins. Wow! Good (God?) news indeed.
It was bedlam in the baggage claim area and of course QF7 wasn’t on any of the signs for the 10 carousels. And then, as if by magic, the PA system announced the “Australian luggage” was on #2.
Found a trolley, collected my stuff and headed back out through Customs. Absolutely no one checking anything. In fact, there were no humans there at all. Probably because they already knew what was in every suitcase …..
Returned the luggage to AA for its flight to Cleveland at 7.46pm. Still a chance. The app tells me I’ve gotta get to Gate A20.
The worst and lengthiest bit was yet to come. Dallas has five Terminals joined together by an elevated Sky-link train. In order to get on that train, one needs to go through Security again. The entire transport system is behind this secure wall.
We were in Terminal D and every connecting passenger arriving from anywhere in the world needs to go through this one and only security checkpoint. The line went out the door and down a corridor and I could not see an end to it. I was totally doomed …..
But then I saw a small desk manned by three lovely ladies who were doing absolutely nothing. It was the desk of my dreams and would get me to Cleveland tonight. It was called “All-ways Fast-Track”. US$40.00 later I had been ushered through a side gate and got in front of what easily looked like 500 people waiting for both them and their carry-on to be searched. I was through in a heartbeat.
Now to catch the train to A20. It was already 8.00pm and if the flight delay hadn’t occurred, I was knackered. But now I’m still a chance. The train arrived and I clambered on. You really do need to see DFW to comprehend just how big an airport it is. From Terminal D to A took 10 mins.
I arrived at Gate A20 just as my name was called out over the PA. I signalled my arrival with a shout and a wave to the desk and flashed the most beautiful boarding pass I’d seen all day.
Made it by a whisker. Now to hope the luggage is below me.
It was. Because the AA app told me. Something that Qantas could well invest in. No wait. They have to provide the requisite on board Wi-Fi first. I laid back and thought of England, as they say in the classics. I became blissfully unaware of anything and fell fast asleep.
We touched down in Cleveland at 12.35am. The airport remains open to accommodate late arriving planes. But there were no retail shops open at all. So went hungry. Apart from the mandatory small packet of almonds, you get nothing in the way of food on a domestic US flight. An Uber was the choice for the ride to the hotel. As I strolled in around 1.45am the desk clerk was very helpful …. to the extent that a bottle of water and two blueberry muffins came my way.
The final task for the day was to make an on-line purchase of a T-Mobile e-SIM. Such a simple and easy transaction these days assuming you have a later model phone with a built-in permanent SIM card. Ya pay the money and they send a QR code by e-mail which, when scanned, immediately activates the SIM and provides you with a phone number and the job’s done. Unlimited data too ….
Days -6 to -1: Thursday 18th to 23rd
These six days we spent pleasantly engaged with Stubb making sure various items for the tour were locked into place. On a number of occasions, we accidentally found ourselves to be in the same area as an Ohian speedway track which happened to have a race on that night. Naturally we couldn’t let that opportunity go by, so felt it important to pay it a visit to ensure that the strength of the sprintcar community was up to scratch for our tour members. Waynesfield, Fremont and Wayne County all passed the test.
Day 1: Wednesday June 24th
For the author this day started in Clearfield, Pennsylvania and ended in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express in Mechanicsburg.
For the tour members the day started (probably around 5.00am for most) by jumping out of bed to prepare for the longest plane ride of their lives so far. 15.5 hours from Sydney to Dallas on the awesome A380 behemoth. As the first day in this Blog described we bought the tickets for them during a quick sale that Qantas had in January. $3,600 return for Premium Economy seating each way across the Pacific.
Apparently, Russell did no favours for his seating companion (an American couple returning from an Australian holiday) by telling them the price of his ticket. They had paid $7,000 each for the same privilege.
Unlike my journey a week ago, QF7 left on time and arrived on time. No issues with Immigration, Customs, or security clearances. The only hiccup was Russell. A six-hour layover meant there was plenty of time to do plenty of stuff. The gate number for the flight to Harrisburg wouldn’t be known for hours yet so it was a case of pick a Terminal and stay there, or wander between them all via the Sky Link train. Nobody is quite sure what happened to our “Hall of Fame with Legend status” Russell. He wasn’t sighted again after giving his luggage back to American Airlines for the onward journey.
For they others, they scattered too but largely kept together whilst humorously watching the Gate # for their flight change five times on the boards. B18, C8, C38, C8 and lastly C34. You guessed it. Russell had seen B18 and headed there on the train. Found the gate (now five hours early) and watched four fights leave before realising there was no one else there with him in the lounge after the last one boarded.
By this time the main group at C34 began panicking as to “where’s Russell”? Was he involved in a medical incident somewhere in one of the Terminals? Was he simply lost in the vastness of the airport? Announcements were made (but only throughout Terminal C) but to no avail. Our team became resigned to the fact that they might be boarding without the Legend. They could do no more as Russ hadn’t yet got his phone working.
Flight AA2469 to Harrisburg mercifully was delayed by 25 minutes and as the last passengers were showing their boarding passes, Russ strolled into sight none the wiser that he had been a candidate for “Australia’s Most Wanted”.
Peter was waiting for the group on arrival in Harrisburg on a beautiful night and one which for the first time in the last three tours, it wasn’t raining hard. The journey to the Holiday Inn Express in the darkness of midnight went without any further incidents and after some hotel parking lot drinks to hear about the inbound adventures, sleeping in a bed was then permitted!
Day 2: Thursday June 25th
Our first task today was a T Mobile store to tidy up some issues with a couple of phones before touring around Harrisburg and some regular tourist spots. One is City Island in the middle of the Susquehanna river. Over the 250 years of settlement in the USA, the island has had a number of purposes, not the least of which was during the Civil War of the 1860’s. It was utilised as a military defence site when Union soldiers set up ‘Camp Necessity’ to protect against the Confederates forces.
In the 1900’s a ballpark was established for amateur Negro baseball. This eventually morphed into a much larger and more professional stadium for the Harrisburg Senators in the Double-A league.
Next was the beloved Bass Pro store to investigate all things required for hunting aids not to mention some excellent clothing choices. Lunch in the ‘all you can eat’ Lin He Chinese buffet was followed by the first of an expected 50 visits to Walmart. This one was for folding chairs to tailgate with around the country plus a general array of personal purchases which quickly pile up in the back of the bus.
One activity not shown on the itinerary was next. We wandered up “Donny Schatz Highway” so called (by me) because it is the regularly travelled Route 15. This time we only went so far as Williams Grove Speedway where a visit with Kathy Hughes, the owner and promoter of the track and surrounding land, had been pre-arranged. Here, the effervescent Kathy and her able side kick Tyler afforded us the opportunity of seeing the track first hand without the thousands of others who will be packing out the place out over the next two Friday nights.
Kathy grew up in the Amusement Park industry. Upon the death of her father Morgan in 2008, the now closed Amusement Park and the adjacent speedway became hers and sprintcars became her day-to-day interest and love.
Dinner was in the Buffalo Wild Wings next door to our hotel where the Soccer World Cup dominated the dozens of big screen televisions in the place. Australia played Paraguay and although it was a 0-0 draw we did move through to the next round.
Day 3: Friday June 26th
Given that this was night one of 44 races on the tour we were all eager to get it in, I’m tipping that the curtains in all rooms were pulled aside at the same time this morning. And fortunately, the weather was behaving as it should. Tomorrow might be a problem however …..
The on-going saga with Russell’s phone was our first objective upon setting out for a full day away from the hotel. Sill unable to get it operating, the Chief Executive of the Blackman phone investigative team (aka Shayne Andrews) decided it needed the assistance of a T-Mobile guru. Shayne’s alternative proposal of attaching it to his drone and dropping it somewhere about two miles away was abandoned.
Not unexpectedly the visit did not go well. Russell had bought a SIM card in Australia from an organisation no one had ever heard of but was one which rents space off the T-Mobile US network. We needed to contact them. In the meantime, the SIM was tried in Barry’s phone and it worked perfectly. That sent Shayne off on a different tangent. “I wonder if Russell has ever updated his phone” he said to himself. The answer to that was, never. So, after it finished updating, the SIM was re-inserted and it worked. At least it did for phone calls and texts. But not Messenger or Facebook.
“He can do without them for the moment” thought Shayne. “I’ve had enough ….”
And so, we arrived at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing on time and on budget. ie: it was free to get in. Once again the EMMR did not disappoint with its vast array of speedway dirt cars stretching back to the early 1930’s – brilliantly presented and meticulously researched with detailed explanations of every vehicle’s history. Curator Mike Winslow looked after us beautifully and we concluded with a special look at the “secret shed” some 500 metres from the main building. It’s in here that the ‘special’ cars are held.
From the Museum we headed back towards Harrisburg on 15 until it was time to turn off to the TJ Rockwell’s Grill & Tavern where the $30 full rack of ribs took centre stage. Purchased specifically because even Shayne knew he couldn’t eat all of them, so dinner at Williams Grove was now solved. via the “doggy bag”.
We arrived at the ‘dripping with history’ paperclip shaped track within 90 seconds of leaving TJ’s joint, such is its proximity to The Grove. 3.00pm is probably early for many, but when all the participants are there for a singular reason, it’s best to get the most desired spot in the parking lot. Under the tree at the top of the small rise outside Turn 1. Maybe Kathy could erect a sign there for us?
Track entry wasn’t until 5.00pm so folks went walking, or simply sat in the shade and watched as cars gradually rolled in. At 5.01pm our little campsite became a lot smaller and understandably a pit visit became highly attractive to first time punters. Particularly with three Australians in the field – James McFadden, Ryan Newton and Parker Scott. Our seats were on the back straight in the grandstand adjacent to the legendary Beer Hill. An interesting aside is that you cannot buy a beer on Beer Hill. In fact, you can’t buy one anywhere in the track. But coolers (eskies) are allowed, should you wish to partake.
The night went quickly with Anthony Macri winning night 1 of Sprintweek on his comeback to the sport after an (injury enforced) three-month layoff. Barry Lane, after a two-year layoff from touring swept the opening GST pool and took home the $50.
Will he ever stop collecting??
Day 4: Saturday June 27th
Gettysburg is always a stop of fascination along our many and varied tour path. Today was no exception. Folks always remark that they had no idea of the mass casualties that happened here, nor did they really understand what the American Civil War was all about.
So today for the first time, we made our first stop the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors’ Centre where they were able to watch an excellent short film (narrated by everybody’s favourite Morgan Freeman) and begin to understand that it was all about slavery. This was backed up by the quite extraordinary Cyclorama.
Then to wrap it all together we piled back in the Merc, put the Auto Tour app through the van speakers and followed the instructions religiously as it guided us by GPS and Blue Tooth around the 24 miles of tourist trail in the ‘killing fields’. The entire area is beautifully preserved and it’s something that I can’t see any future government ever trying to hide the shocking events of those three deadly days in July, 1863.
By the numbers, the Gettysburg battle alone killed 7,065 soldiers outright and left another 44,000 maimed and injured. Manufacturing prosthetic arms and legs became the number industry in the USA post the Civil War.
By far the most damning stat is the following. And don’t lose sight of the fact that these Americans were killed by their fellow Americans.
The American Civil War resulted in an estimated 1.1 million to 1.5 million total casualties, representing roughly 2% of the entire national population at the time. Historically, the accepted military death toll was 620,000, but modern demographic research using digitized census records places the actual death toll closer to 750,000 to 850,000.
Lunch was at KFC where the popular choice was the simply delicious Chicken Pot Pie. It’s gotta arrive in Australia soon!
It was a reasonably pleasant temperature as we made our way along US 30 to Abbottstown where Lincoln Speedway is nestled just off the highway on the appropriately named Racetrack Road. A touch later than we wanted, but we still were able to get our regular spot (but no shady tree) adjacent to the track leading down to the pit gate where transporters of all size and descriptions line up waiting for the pit window to open up. This it does at 5.30pm.
Whilst the haulers are waiting there, drivers sometimes jump down from the cab and chat with us as do many other US fans who appear magnetically drawn to our bus. Perhaps it’s the two glorious Australian flags permanently draped over the massive rear doors. When they are opened up the passing parade of fans can’t help but say hi. Some walk straight past, but many stop to chat.
One such young man slipped into the camp after most of our group had left to go and watch qualifying. Our new-found friend Ashley had had a few and came looking for a light for his smoke. Wing obliged and what followed was quite remarkable. “Tired and emotional” was the best phrase to describe him. He said that he’d a had a big shock delivered to him by his girlfriend who was with another guy, so alcohol and nicotine was the way to fix it.
As is usual with Americans I asked him where he was from? “Town and state” and then went further by enquiring as to what he did for a job. “Nuclear physicist,” he said. Yeah sure, was our muted reaction. I then mentioned the coincidence that next Tuesday I’ll be taking the team down to Three Mile Island on the Susquehanna to view the nuclear power plant and reactor which (ala Chernobyl) almost destroyed Harrisburg on March 28th, in 1979. “Yeah” he said casually, “I closed that one just before it was ready to blow.”
Now given that was 47 years ago and old mate looked no more than 35, we dismissed his advice, but he continued with all sorts of nuclear talk that almost convinced us it might be true. Then out of the blue he invited us (Barry, Peter B, Wing and I) up to his private box inside the track. So, we took him at his word and watched the night’s racing with his potential father-in-law and 25 other people spread across three private boxes. Turns out we were in the company of the major sponsor for the night!
And Ashley? Well, he was sprawled out at the back of the box. Not too sure just how much he saw of the night …..
Chase Dietz the winningest driver in the US so far this season took the dough and the checkered flag. And PB (Peter Brown) took the GST sweep money home to bed.
Day 5: Sunday June 28th
The old timers at Latimore Valley Speedway and BAPS at night for Round 3 were today’s objective.
Late news had filtered through before we left Australia that the EMMR would be conducting spirited demonstrations at their own Latimore Valley track in conjunction with a fair and an historic old timers Tractor Pull. We had attended one of these four years ago and was well worth it. So, intended arrangements were changed and we found ourselves back where we were on Friday. Regrettably it did not turn out to be anywhere near as good. Classic car entries were numbered at just 10, one food van on the infield and very little atmosphere anywhere. But there was no entry fee, so I guess we got what we paid for.
We stayed and watched two sessions of “racing” and explored the Tractor Pull next door before choosing to leave a little earlier for BAPS than we had anticipated.
Now what is BAPS you might ask? Well, it’s a track in Newberrytown near York which used to be called Susquehanna Speedway until it was purchased in 2016 by Scott Gobrecht. The older brother of the late Kevin Gobrecht who was killed in a 1999 World of Outlaws crash at I-80 Speedway in Nebraska, Scott immediately turned things around at Susquehanna so much so that he offered the sole naming rights to the local Automobile Paint distributor in York. The landmark deal was just what was needed to inject capital into a track that could one day rival Port Royal Speedway as a facility.
We arrived at around 2.30pm which is easy to do when everyone in the bus has the same mindset which is to get to the track as soon as possible to secure good tailgating space and seating in the stands. We did both on this occasion. The tailgating attracted many people who remembered the tour group from previous years or were just keen to learn about Australia. One such young man from the latter group, arrived with a very attractive female friend and happened to mention that he was waiting for the opportunity to join the local Fire Department and innocently enquired about firefighting in Australia.
Now he wasn’t to know that two of our group are retired fire fighters, one being a very (now ex) senior officer from the Tasmania Fire Service in Burnie. Shayne and Russell proceeded to give him some advice, hints and the benefit of their years of experience.
Another gentleman (who sat in his car for 30 minutes or so staring at us before venturing over) made himself at home by occupying one of the chairs and drinking our beer. Shayne featured again when he asked him why it is that lamb isn’t popular here in the USA. He came up with all sorts of explanations from the historical reason that back in the day herding cattle was far easier (and cheaper) than moving sheep when transport to the markets was mainly on foot. Then it was that a sheep is only seen as a provider of wool, not food because the taste was too “gamey’.
But his best was yet to come. Out of the blue he said, “I don’t like lamb. But I do like lamb chops”.
Meanwhile over in the noise making area, Chase Dietz went back-to-back and won again while David Attard took home the money from the sweep.
Day 6: Monday June 29th
The (covered) Bridges of Lancaster County and back at Lincoln Speedway for night 4 of Pennsylvania Speedweek were the lead items for the next 16 hours out on the road.
First stop was the Historical Marker for Three Mile Island on the Susquehanna River. Great views are permitted here but at least a small parking lot to stop in would be really helpful indeed. Trucks belting past while standing on the shoulder of the road taking photos is not a good idea. The link will tell you what happened to the Nuclear Plant in Harrisburg when Unit reactor #2 malfunctioned back in 1979.
Onwards from there we proceeded into the wonderful rolling hills of Lancaster, most of which are occupied by the Amish population who farm the fertile ground with nothing other than live animals and their bare hands. Motorised farming equipment is a big no-no in Amish lore. Fortunately they are permitted to use massive clothes lines upon which garments of all shapes and sizes are seen blowing in the wind. Every house every day. Bob Dylan would have been delighted.
The covered bridges are both stately and old. Still in good nick however as the timber used is sturdy and strong. Vehicles (including heavy Mercedes Sprinter vans) can drive through without any weight concerns, although height sometimes comes into play.
The bridges are many and varied and co-exist with area towns such as Blue Ball, Bird in the Hand, Paradise, Fertility, Gap, Leacock and of course the daddy of them all being Intercourse. Vehicles line up by the minute to photograph the sign which welcomes visitors to Intercourse. (We were no different of course.)
We scattered when we parked in the village shops after deciding it was best to leave people to do their own thing while in Intercourse. Eating was popular, followed by a smoke for those who indulge. Some had wine and cheese while others crossed the road to the Pit Stop Bar & Grill which proudly displays that it is owned by someone called BJ.
After nearly two hours spent in Intercourse, it was time to withdraw from the town and move on to another exciting past time which was sprintcars at Lincoln Speedway again. This time for the (late) Steve Smith Tribute race which doubled as Round 5 of Speedweek. It would pay $50,019 to the winner.
We arrived a little later than we had planned but still grabbed our favourite piece of grass right next to where the transporters turn right to head down the slope for the pit gate. Every single truck has to go this way and we get a wave from many of them once they see the proud Australian flags permanently draped over the two back doors. On this occasion, Chase Dietz’s team rolled past and we wished them well in their chase for a third consecutive victory. And a rich one indeed …..
It was while watching all this unfold that we were paid a visit by a reporter and cameraman from Fox 43 television station in Harrisburg. They asked if they could do a story for tomorrow night’s news about Australians travelling as far as they do to take in racing in the United States. Naturally we were happy to oblige and here’s the result in writing. And then this link carries the video .
Thrilled with that about 40 minutes later another reporter strolled into the camp armed with pad and pencil. He to wanted to know all about us and said he will cover our story in the local widely read Lancaster Gazette. Although principally a farming newspaper it has a very strong motorsports emphasis. Not unusual when you
consider Tractor Pulls and the huge interest farmers have in racing of all forms. Now you can read our story in there as well.
Lincoln has been good to us this tour. Got both Speedweek races in. (Highly unusual!) Watched the first one with the major sponsor of the race. And now publicity galore about this pack of Aussies on the sprintcar warpath!
As foreshadowed in the caption for Chase Dietz above, he did get the win (back to back to back) and the cheque for $50,019. Shayne Andrews owned Chase in the Global Speedway Tours sweep and because we couldn’t find a cheque small enough, Shayne had to settle for cash …..
Day 7: Tuesday June 30th
Chocolate and sprintcars don’t mix …..
